Super Eagles winger Moses Simon has stirred debate over discrimination in Nigerian football after alleging that Rangers International of Enugu once denied him a professional contract because of his tribe.

In a recent interview with Urban Dwell Sports, Simon recounted his unsuccessful trial with the Nigeria Premier Football League side, claiming that non-football factors influenced the club’s decision.

According to Simon, he spent about three months on trial with Rangers, even captaining the trialists’ team, only to be overlooked when the club moved to offer contracts.

“I’ve never told anyone this story, it’s the first time. But it’s a disgrace, you know. That year, I was dropped, not because I wasn’t able.

“That was just tribalism, not because of my game. I was there for three months, and a guy came, I forgot his name, he’s an Igbo guy. He just trained for one week and they signed him,” Simon said in the interview.

Pressed on why he believed ethnicity played a role, Simon said he was told his background counted against him.

“And they said it was because I was from the north, or something,” he added, suggesting that his origins outside the South-East influenced the outcome.

Rangers International has firmly rejected the allegation. In a statement signed by its General Manager and Chief Executive Officer, Amobi Ezeaku, the club said it had taken note of Simon’s comments but denied operating any discriminatory policy.

“While we respect every player’s right to recount his personal journey, it is important to clearly state that Rangers International FC has never maintained, and does not maintain, any policy of discrimination based on ethnicity, tribe, religion or place of origin,” the statement read.

The Enugu club described itself as a national institution that, for more than five decades, has recruited players, coaches and officials from across Nigeria and beyond. It stressed that its recruitment philosophy is anchored on footballing ability, character, discipline and commitment.

“Thousands of players have passed through Rangers over the years. Some earned contracts, others did not. Such decisions are part of football and are influenced by numerous sporting, technical and administrative considerations,” the club said.

Rangers added that its men’s, women’s and youth teams continue to welcome talents from all parts of the country, insisting that “talent speaks louder than tribe and performance remains the ultimate criterion for opportunity.”

Simon, now with Paris FC in France, has gone on to establish himself as a regular for the Super Eagles, turning a painful early setback into a springboard for a successful European career.